LEGAL LANGUAGE SERVICES

Frequently Asked Questions About Serving Process Abroad

Legal Language Services invites you to return to this page frequently, as it will be expanded and updated regularly to include new topics on international service of process. If a topic listed below has not yet been answered, please call our staff at (800) 755-5775 for further information.

• What are the US rules and authorities governing service of process upon a foreign defendant?
• To which international judicial assistance treaties or conventions is the US a party?
• What are the Hague Conventions?
• To which Hague Conventions is the US a party?
• What is the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and Additional Protocol?
• What is a letter rogatory?
• What is the Vienna Consular Convention?
• How do I serve someone based abroad on a US military base?
• Who may serve process abroad?
• Can a US agent or process server cross US borders and effect service in a foreign country?
• What are the differences between service of process in a civil law and a common law country?
• Is it possible to skip trace defendants overseas?
• How long does it take to serve process overseas?
• How does the question of enforcement of judgment impact service of process?
• How does one serve process upon a foreign government or government official?
• Can service be effected upon a foreign diplomat or foreign embassy?
• How do I serve a US diplomat based abroad at a US Embassy?